The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-03-25
trickerY.''


word politics in its good or proper
and useful sense, and in its bad and
improper sense. and it has become
an imperative duty for farmers to
embark in politics in every meeting
and association formed by the guild,
not in its bad, or party sense, but in
its noble and patriotic claims. We
quote from Mr.. Noyes' essay.
II offer some figures which are
very suggestive. think, COPIED
from the Christian Union of N. Y.
city, and presented by the working
men of Chicago to the Commercial
Club of the latter city. They state
that the average wages of the 8,OOO,-
600 farmers and farm hands is less
than 80 cts. day. That Mr.. Wand
erbilt made more from 1880 to 1885
than one million farmers. That the
profits of 1000 banks were more than
chat of 100000 farmers. That the
earnings of 100 railroads were more
than 100000 farmers; while the
earnings of money loaners, mortgage
shavers and official plunderers were
more than those of four millions of
farmers. You can draw your own
conclusions from these figures. Now
l assert that there meyer was a time
from the first settlement of this
country until the close of our late
war, when the farmers were not gen
orally considered fully qualified as
legislators to make laws for the peo-
pie. That they represent as fully as
any class OF our citizens the tru v
conservative. moral. and patriotic
elements of our population. In the
South especially while the agricult-
ura. classes or planters were extrav-
agant in individual expenditures,
yet they were careful and honest in
government expenditures, And what
was true of the Southern farmers was
equally so of the agriculturists of
the North. Now when it is consid.
cred that so many business calcula-
tons are based upon the traffic in
the products of the farmers industry,
and that all classes are dependent
upon him for their food and clothes,
it should be the duty of all classes to
foster and encourage his interests.
To see that farmers as class have
equal and exact justice shown them
as fully as any other class of produc.
ers. That they should be represent
ed in all Legislative bodies just as
fully and as ably as any other class
who should in defense of their inter
ests, make it their business to see
that combinations should not stand
in the way Of their prosperity. But
such is not the case. While nearly
every other industry has established
systems looking to the advancement
of their common interests, the farm
or. patient and apparently spiritless.
has uaresistingly submitted to con-
tinued injustice and plods along in
the same old ruts, paying the prices
set by others on their products, and
accepting for his product whatever
the world gives him, and that too
for what the world cannot do with
out, Now to secure a just recogni-
ton of his position among the worlds
producers of ]ife's necessities, [ hold
that farmers should organize to Sc
cure farmers to represent them in
every representative position"
This is true, every word true, and
we commend the sound advice to ev-
cry farmer, Let every one of them
become politician in its true sense.
and abandon the false teaching
which has been instilled into their
minds by corrupt party leaders for
selfish and mercenary purposes, that
they owe allegiance to any party,
man or set of men. The figures above
quoted from the Christian Union
ought to cause them to pause and
consider. The income of one man.
Vanderbilt, more than one million
farmers And to this condition has
the policy of the men you have been
putting forward to make your laws.
brought you at last. No wonder that
r. l. 1